From Boat Shows to Virtual Tours: Buying a Boat in the Digital Age

Sixteen years ago we bought our first family cruiser at the New York Boat Show. My husband was working in Manhattan, so he asked me to meet him at the Javits Center on 11th Avenue. I bundled up our two young children for the trip from Connecticut, packed the stroller, filled the sippy cups and drove in on a winter day. Two hours later our family was navigating the crowded exhibit halls toward the Sea Ray booth. We signed the contract for a Sundancer, rang the ship’s bell to mark the occasion, and climbed aboard the new boat to take photos with friends who had come to celebrate. It felt like a small, joyful milestone.

If you’ve ever bought a boat at a show, you know how electrifying that experience can be. Boat shows concentrate choices, let you step aboard multiple models in one place, and create an atmosphere that turns buying into an event. But this year, with the Covid-19 pandemic canceling or postponing many in-person shows, the industry has moved quickly to build alternatives. Boat shopping is shifting from docks and convention centers to screens and streaming platforms, and that transition is changing how buyers research, compare and ultimately purchase boats.

Some marine industry organizations pivoted early. Active Interest Media, the parent company of Soundings, launched a digital boat show in April. The virtual show has been updated continuously and has already produced measurable results: the publisher reported a 28 percent uplift in online engagement across its titles. Boaters have responded positively to the advantages of virtual events—chief among them accessibility. A digital show is open around the clock, can be updated as new models and content arrive, and lets you explore at your own pace without travel time or crowds.

The content available in modern digital boat shows goes far beyond static product listings. Expect video boat tours that walk you through layouts and features, product demonstrations that show gear in action, and recorded or live seminars covering boat purchases, maintenance and safe operation. Many virtual events also include interviews with industry experts and footage of new model debuts. These elements can replace much of the in-person learning that boat shows traditionally provided while giving you the flexibility to rewatch key segments when making a decision.

Still, shopping for a boat online requires different skills than strolling a convention center. Here are practical tips for getting the most out of a digital boat show and buying a boat virtually:

• Watch multiple video tours and compare layouts side-by-side. Pay attention to sightlines, headroom, cockpit flow and storage—details that affect daily use.
• Attend live Q&A sessions or submit questions to industry experts when offered. Live interaction is one of the closest substitutes for the conversations you’d have on the exhibit floor.
• Request manufacturer-supplied spec sheets and high-resolution photos. If possible, ask for a virtual walkthrough with a dealer who can operate the camera to show specific features you want to inspect.
• Verify warranty, delivery timelines and dealer support in writing. Virtual purchases still need the same documentation and follow-through as in-person transactions.
• Consider sea trials and in-person inspections as a final step. Many dealers will accommodate on-water trials by appointment when it’s safe to do so, or offer third-party inspections prior to finalizing the sale.

There are trade-offs. For example, you can’t quite replicate the ritual of winding a ship’s bell at a public show or the immediate buzz of stepping aboard a brand-new vessel with friends around you. But the core of the experience—finding the right boat for your family and celebrating a major purchase—remains the same. Buyers are discovering that virtual venues can be efficient, comprehensive and sometimes more convenient than traditional shows.

Publishers and event organizers plan to keep improving these platforms, adding new features and fresh content to meet boater needs for as long as pandemic concerns affect public events. Whether your favorite boat show is postponed or you’re simply not ready to attend a crowded event, a well-run digital boat show can help you research models, learn from experts and make an informed purchase decision.

Jeanne Craig
[email protected]

This article was originally published in the October 2020 issue.